Pedroia connected in the fourth against right-hander Gil Meche, who came off the disabled list after being hampered by a stiff shoulder at the end of spring training. It was the second baseman's 13th career game with at least four hits.

Guillen led off the second with a drive to center and hit a three-run shot off Ramon Ramirez in the eighth to get Kansas City within two. Ramirez failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced.

Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his second save in two opportunities.

Boston sent eight men to the plate during its four-run first. Victor Martinez singled in Ellsbury and scored on Beltre's base hit. Jeremy Hermida added a two-run double.

Beltre doubled in two more runs in the fourth to give Boston an 8-3 lead.

Clay Buchholz (1-0) worked five innings for the Red Sox, yielding three runs, two earned and seven hits.

Meche (0-1), in the fourth season of a $55 million, five-year contract, lasted just 3 1-3 innings, allowing seven runs and eight hits. Royals starting pitchers had a 2.51 ERA in the first five games of the season.

Ellsbury left after he collided with Beltre in foul territory while chasing Mitch Maier's fly ball.

NOTES: The Royals optioned INF Mike Aviles to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Meche on the roster. ... Maier, who led the majors with a .475 batting average in spring training, appeared in his first game, going 0 for 2 with a walk. ... OF J.D. Drew was held out of Boston's lineup with a stiff neck. He is hoping to return to the lineup Monday at Minnesota. ... INF Bill Hall made his Red Sox debut, starting at shortstop and moving to right field in the ninth. He went 0 for 3 and committed an error in the first that led to an unearned run. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz struck out four times, bringing his strikeout total to nine in 19 at-bats. He is hitting .111 with one extra-base hit and one RBI in five games.